County of statue: St. Louis Independent City
Location of statue: S. Grand Blvd., Compton Hill Reservoir Park, St. Louis
Artist: Wilhelm Wandschneider, 1886-1942, sculptor
Founder: H. Gladenbeck & Sohn
Contractor: Pickel Stone Company
"The statue called "The Naked Truth," designated a city landmark in 1969, was controversial before it was even built. It is a memorial to Dr. Emil Preetorius, Carl Schurz and Carl Daenzer, German-American editors of the St. Louis Westliche Post. Adolphus Busch was the major donor, giving $20,000 of the $31,000 cost.
"A jury selected a design by sculptor Wilhelm Wandschneider of Berlin. Busch was appalled by the jury’s selection and the controversy over the nudity in the statue prompted great debates. The sculptor refused Busch’s request that the figure be draped.
"The jury voted 14 to 12 to accept the original design but said the nude figure should be made of a material other than white marble, to de-emphasize the nudity. The figure is made of bronze.
"The statue is a nude figure of a woman seated on a stone bench with arms outstretched, holding torches. The figure symbolizes "Truth" and the torches are for the "enlightenment of Germany and the United States." The figure of Truth is of bronze in heroic size. The eyes are painted as in some bronze figures of the Greeks and as in many modern German statues. The inscription on the back of the shaft in incised lettering expressing the devotion of German-American citizens to the country of their adoption. This inscription is repeated in German.
"The memorial was a gift to St Louis by the German-American Alliance and was unveiled on May 27, 1914." ~ The Water Tower and Park Preservation Society
Monument Text:
(Front of monument above statue):
SCHURZ PREETORIUS DAENZER
(Rear of monument): Text in three columns:
(Left column): As German-Americans and leaders of their compatriots in public life it ever was their lofty aim and steady purpose to prove true to the land of their adpotin and to serve it faithfully and well. Independent characters striving with ardent zeal for everything that is great and beautiful in life. They brought with them the prdecious treasures of Germaanias culture and placed them, a blessing for all coming generations, in Columbia's keeping. Erected by their grateful fellow-citizens in recognition of their services.
(center column): Erected anno 1914 by the Preetorius=Schurz=Daenzer Memorial Association. Adolphus Busc, Honorary President
Dr. H. M. Starkloff, President
Ben Altheimer, Vice-President
August H. Hoffmann, Treasure
Wm. C. F. Lenz, Secretary
Board of directors
Dr. F. Kolbenheyer, Geo. Rueckoldt, Edward C. Kehr, Aug. Voigt, Aug. A. Bush, Prof. Peter herzog, J. A. Val. Schmidt, Judge Jacob Klein, August Dietz, E. G. Winter, F. W. Keck
(right column): Als deutschamerikaner und fuhrer inrer landsleute im offentlichien leben hatten sie stets das hohe ziel vor augen ihrem adoptiv=vaterlande treu zu dienen. Hangige charaktere fur alles grosse und schone begeistert, brachten sie die edelsten suter dekinkultur Germanias mit sich und legten si zum seben alter kunftigen geschlechter in den schoos Columbias.
In Neioloser anerkennung ihre dankbaren mitburger.
Proper Description: "A nude female figure with arms outstretched and a torch in each hand sits on the lower section of a stele that rises up behind her. A piece of cloth is draped over her head and out to each torch. She represents Truth enthroned just a few steps above the ground level of everyday existence. The stele formerly included three bronze medallions above the figure's head. The subjects of the medallions were: Beauty and Culture crossing the Ocean; Fight against baser Instincts; and Flight of Genius." ~ Smithsonian American Art Museum
Remarks: "Gift of the German-American Alliance and private donors, including Adolphus Busch. Cost: $46,000. The monument represents the German spirit of enlightenment in America, personified by Carl Schurz, Emil Preetorius and Carl Daenzer, editors of the Westliche Post. Controversy surrounded the monument in 1913 and 1914, first because the figure is nude; and, after the beginning of World War I, because the artist was German and the donors were of German background. The monument was relocated in 1969 from the north edge of the park to accommodate a highway. [I-44] IAS files contain newspaper article from St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 26, 1913, and other unidentified clippings which discuss controversy over the monument." ~ Smithsonian American Art Museum
World War One caused must turmoil in St. Louis. Being a heavy German influence here, the hatred and lines were sharply drawn. Sauerkraut could not longer be called that but had to be ordered in stores as "Liberty Cabbage"; Berlin Ave was re-named to Pershing Ave., etc..To aviod physical beatings many German-Americans Americanized their names in spelling and pronunciation. My family dropped the "von" from our name because non-Germans thought it meant "Sir" which it does not.